I was reminded today of a church sign that I saw a long time that make me chortle. That’s when you do a cross between a chuckle and a snort. The sign read “Pobody is nerfect.” I love that.

Nobody is perfect. No one will ever even get close to perfect in this lifetime. God calls for us to strive for maturity and completion, not perfection. And isn’t it telling that perfection is not a fruit of the Spirit. But joy is. So is peace. So is patience.

So much of the life of faith isn’t about getting to a place and resting on your laurels, thinking you’ve finally got the Christian life down pat and can stop working on your life and start “helping” others by pointing out their faults and shortcomings. The life of following Jesus is a daily process of being a little less my sin and a little more like Jesus. It’s a little more of joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and self-control each day.

There has only been one perfect person, and He didn’t spend His time lording it over everyone else. He came not to be served but to serve. He came to give His life as a ransom for many. He came to heal the sick and to save the lost and to break bread with sinners and to wash dirty feet. And He calls us to do the same.

He said that whatever you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done it unto Jesus. So maybe we need a little less striving after perfection and more serving of the people. And loving Jesus.